Lanai off-road adventures and coastal exploration

The Heart of the Adventure: Things to Do in Lanai

Off-road exploration and pristine coastline adventures

Written by a Local Hawaii Expert

The Heart of the Adventure: Things to Do in Lanai

Once your logistics are in place, the real magic of Lanai begins. This is an island that rewards the curious and the adventurous. Its treasures are not found in crowded tourist hubs. They're at the end of a red dirt road, on a secluded beach, or in the stories of its past.

Off-Road Exploration: Journeys on Red Dirt

Keahiakawelo (Garden of the Gods)

A 45-minute drive from Lanai City will transport you to another world. Keahiakawelo, or Garden of the Gods, is a vast, windswept landscape of mysterious rock towers, spires, and boulders scattered across red earth. It feels more like the surface of Mars than a Hawaiian island.

This is where my love for storytelling and history truly connects with the land. Keahiakawelo is a wahi pana, a storied place. Legend tells of a contest between two priests, one from Lanai and one from Molokaʻi. Each was challenged to keep a fire burning on his own island longer than the other. The priest of Lanai, Kawelo, was so determined to win that he burned every piece of vegetation in this area. He left behind the barren landscape we see today. The best time to visit is during the golden hour before sunset. The low light sets the rocks ablaze in brilliant reds and purples. You can feel the power of that ancient story.

A Personal Plea from Me: The stones at Keahiakawelo have rested for centuries. In our culture, to move them is to disturb the peace of the land. Please, walk with care, take only photographs, and leave this sacred place as you found it. Stacking or removing rocks is kapu (forbidden).

The Munro Trail

Named for George Munro, the New Zealand naturalist who reforested the island's highlands with the now-iconic Cook pines, the Munro Trail is a legendary 12.8-mile route. It climbs to the summit of Lanaihale (3,370 feet), the island's highest peak. On a perfectly clear day from the top, it is said you can see five other Hawaiian islands: Maui, Molokaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Oahu, and the Big Island.

Important Update: Many older sources will list this as a must-do, but its status has been uncertain due to vital restoration efforts. As of late 2023 and into 2024, reports indicated it was fully or partially closed. I cannot stress this enough: before planning your day around this adventure, you must verify its current status. Your Jeep rental company or the folks at the Lānaʻi Culture & Heritage Center will have the most up-to-date information. When it is open, it's a journey through the clouds. Respecting these closures is part of visiting with aloha.